The Best of 2024
(In my rarely-if-ever-humble opinion)
We’re back with everyone’s favorite series, “Eddie’s Best Of”!
I know, I know. You just could not leave 2024 without reading “Eddie’s Best Of” list for the year. I get it. It’s an important, Earth-shattering list. Hey, you demanded, I delivered!
Here’s the rundown for those of you new to this schtick:
Inspired by former President Barack Obama “Best Of” lists to commemorate the year, I decided to make my own!
Unlike the 44th leader of the free world, however, I don’t keep my lists focused on entertainment exclusively released in 2024. (If I did, well…it would be a really small list).
SO, instead, I keep track of every great piece of entertainment that I consumed specifically in the calendar year, regardless of when it came out. Really, this article should be titled “Best of…things Eddie specifically first watched/read in 2024”. Not as catchy though, right? And hey, what other “Best of 2024” list will you find that features Everybody Hates Chris?? And even more scandalously, what “Best of 2024” list will you find that does NOT feature Wicked???
Okay, enough scandals for one intro. Let’s get on with the list!
Best Things Actually Released in 2023
Movies
Smile 2
Scary. Funny. Smart. Unique. Gripping. Watch the first one, then go check out this sequel that is even better than its predecessor (a rare feat for any sequel, let alone a horror sequel!)
Television
We Were the Lucky Ones
It is really “we”, the audience, who are the lucky ones to get to witness the beautiful art that is this show. The Holocaust is always a difficult subject to tackle, especially in an episodic format, but this show is exquisite and necessary viewing.
Documentaries
Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV
Disturbing. Childhood-ruining. Very different than We Were the Lucky Ones, but also what I’d call necessary viewing (ESPECIALLY if you are thinking of putting your child in show business).
See, I told you the list was small! Now, on to the not-actually-released-in-2024-but-I-first-watched-or-read-them-in-2024 bests (in not too particular of an order):
Plays/Playwrights
◦ Butterflies are Free (Leonard Gershe)
◦ The Fox on the Fairway (Ken Ludwig)
◦ Antigone (Sophocles)
Documentaries
◦ Honoring a Broadway Legacy: Behind the Scenes of “tick, tick…BOOM!”
◦ Andrew Garfield Takes Us on Set of “tick, tick…BOOM!”
◦ Muscles and Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators
◦ Remembering Gene Wilder
◦ Hot Potatoe: The Story of the Wiggles
◦ The Playbook: A Coach’s Rules for Life
◦ The Most Hated Man on the Internet
Television
◦ Futurama: S9, 10, 11
◦ Daisy Jones and the Six
◦ Everybody Hates Chris S4
◦ Death Note (2006)
◦ The Other Two: S2, 3
◦ Samurai Jack: S4
◦ A Small Light
◦ The Twilight Zone: S1
◦ Malcolm in the Middle: S5
Books/Novelists
◦ Absolute Power (David Baldacci)
◦ Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth (Noa Tishby)
Movies
◦ Matilda the Musical
◦ Shrek Forever After
◦ 7 Days in Hell
◦ Back to the Future: Part II
◦ Big
◦ Spectre
◦ Gone with the Wind
◦ The Dictator
And as a bonus, here are my previous “Best Of” Lists!
What are you thoughts? What did I miss? What did I get just right? Let me know! And if you liked my Best of 2024, check out all my Best of All Time lists!
And for more things Datz, check out eddiedatz.com!
